# NTSB FTW03LA143: Piper PA-18A-150, N9789D, Roanoke, TX, May 3, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 3, 2003, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Roanoke, TX - Coordinates: 33.04972, -97.232223 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0497&lon=-97.2322&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56928 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA143 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56928/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA143 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's inadequate in-flight planning/decision resulting in fuel starvation and the loss of engine power. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - fuel system - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis During the takeoff climb of the 3rd or 4th touch and go, "the engine lost power and began to sputter." Prior to the flight, according to the cockpit fuel sight gauges observed by the private pilot, the left fuel tank indicated approximately 3/4 full of fuel, and the right tank indicated approximately 1/2 full of fuel. The private pilot, who was receiving instruction for a tailwheel endorsement, stated the fuel selector was selected to the left fuel tank at the time the engine lost power. After the engine lost power, the flight instructor initiated a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted trees and terrain, and came to rest on its nose. Examination of the airplane revealed the fuel system was intact, the left main fuel tank was empty, the right main fuel tank contained "plenty of fuel," and the fuel was clear of contaminants. ## Factual narrative On May 3, 2003, at 1500 central daylight time, a Piper PA-18A-150 single-engine tailwheel-equipped airplane, N9789D, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during takeoff climb, while executing touch and go landings from the Northwest Regional Airport, near Roanoke, Texas. The certified flight instructor (CFI) was not injured, and the private pilot receiving instruction sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to Land Aviation LLC, of Argyle, Texas, and operated by Marcair, of Roanoke, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The local flight departed Northwest Regional Airport approximately 1425. The 260-hour private pilot was receiving a checkout for a tailwheel endorsement. The private pilot reported that prior to the flight, according to the cockpit fuel sight gauges, the left fuel tank indicated approximately 3/4 full of fuel, and the right tank indicated approximately 1/2 full of fuel. During the takeoff climb of the 3rd or 4th touch and go, "the engine lost power and began to sputter." The private pilot stated that the fuel selector was selected to the left fuel tank at the time the engine lost power. After the engine began to lose power, the CFI switched the fuel selector to the right tank position; however, no change in engine power was noted, and the CFI initiated a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted trees and terrain, and came to rest on its nose. An FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported that the right wing and the fuselage sustained structural damage. The FAA inspector stated that the fuel system was intact, the left main fuel tank was empty, the right main fuel tank contained "plenty of fuel," and the fuel was clear of contaminants. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9789D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9789D), registered now, S/N 18-6861, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18A-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18A 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-150) (registry code 7101837) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-6861 - Airframe hours: 2984.2 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Marcair - Registered owner: Land Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2003, 53 hours before - Departed: 52F, Roanoke, TX - Destination: 52F ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 30; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 28, 2001; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,490 total, 156 in this make and model, 1,374 as pilot in command, 140 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 43; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 3, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 260 total, 8 in this make and model, 160 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 2 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20030503009209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030503009209A), May 3, 2003: Piper PA18A150, Roanoke, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 3, 2003, at 1500 central daylight time, a Piper PA-18A-150 single engine airplane, N9789D, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.